Ovls. 433 
characters of the ground upon the Pamir and upon the part of the 
Tian Shan inhabited by these wild sheep are exactly similar.” 
The following remarks on the habits of this species are from Sir 
Victor Brooke’s abstract of Servertzoft’s description : ‘* Ovis Karedint, like 
other sheep, does not live exclusively amongst the rocks, as is the case 
with the different species of Cafra. It is not satisfied, like the latter, 
with small tufts of grass growing in the clefts of the rocks, but requires 
more extensive feeding grounds; it is, therefore, more easily driven 
from certain districts than is the case with Cagra. In the neighbour- 
hood of Kopal, for instance, the goats are abundant in the central parts 
of the steppes of Kara, whilst the sheep have been partially driven 
from these places, only visiting them in autumn. 
“On the southern ranges of the Semiretchinsk Altai, in the vicinity 
of the river Ili, wherever good meadows and rocky places are found, 
Ovis Karelint occurs at elevations of from 2090 to 3000 feet; at the 
sources of the rivers Lepsa, Sarkan, Kora, Karatala, and Koksa it goes 
as high as 10,000, and even to 12,000 feet in the neighbourhood of the 
Upper Narin. In winter it is found at much lower elevations.” 
In a paper by Captain H. Trotter, R.E., read before the Royal 
Geographical Society on the 13th of May, 1878, on the geographical 
results of the mission to Kashgar under Sir Douglas Forsyth (‘ Journal 
R. G. S.’ vol. xlviii., 1878, p. 193), I find the following account refer- 
ing to this sheep, there mentioned under the name of Ovis Polit: “ For 
twenty-five miles above Chakmdk the road continues gently ascending 
along the course of the frozen stream, passing through volcanic rocks 
to Turgat Bela, a little short of which the nature of the country alters, 
and the precipitous hills are replaced by gently undulating grassy slopes, 
abounding with the Ovzs Poli.* 
“These extensive grassy slopes, somewhat resembling the English. 
downs, are a very curious feature of the country, and not only attract 
the Kirghiz as grazing grounds for their cattle, but are equally sought 
after by the large herds of guljar, in one of which Dr. Stoliczka counted 
no less than eighty-five.” 
The Chakmak and Turgat Bela spoken of are on the southern slopes 
of the Thian Shan mountains, which form the boundary between Russia 
and Eastern Turkestan, separating the provinces of Semiretchinsk and 
Kashghar. The Turgat pass, about 12,760 feet, lies between the 
Kashgharian fort of Chakmak and the Russian fort Naryn or Narin., 
Captain Trotter mentions in a foot-note that these sheep, as well as ibex, 
abound in these hills in such large quantities that they form the 
principal food of the garrisons of the outposts. At Chakmdk they saw 
a large shed piled up to the roof with the frozen carcases of these 
* Ovis Heinsi and Ovis nigromontana are doubtful species allied to the foregoing, 
and are not found within the limits assigned to this work. 
2 F 
